PTILOTIS PLUMULUS. 



(Plumed Honey-eater.) 



CfiOWN and all the upper surface, olive yellow, inclining to grey on the back ; lores, black ; ear coverts, throat, and under surface, yellowish 

 grey, faintly streaked with darker. Behind the ear are two tufts —the upper one narrow and black, the lower one broad and of a beautiful 

 yellow. Irides, dark reddish brown ; feet, green. 



Length, 4f inches ; wing. Si ; tail, 2|- ; bill, f ; tarsus, |. 



This species inhabits the interior of Western Australia. Its movements are quick and darting when occupied among the trees, 

 but its flight is easy and graceful. Its note is a long whistle or shake, like a pea-whistle, and it has also other notes of a more quiet and 

 subdued character. It breeds from October to January, the nest being suspended from a horizontal branch near the ground, the materials 

 used in its construction being dried grasses, and the cotton-like buds of flowers, which constitute the lining. Eggs, two, 10 by 7 lines, pale 

 salmon color, freckled with a deeper tint, which forms a zone at the broad end. 



PTILOTIS ORNATUS. 



(Graceful Honey -eater.) 



-♦^ 



Crown, outer edges of wings, and tail, rich olive ; back and rump, brown ; throat and cheeks, olive brown ; chest and under surface, greyish 

 white, each feather broadly marked with dark brown down the centre ; under tail coverts, buffy white, striped with brown ; a bright yellow 

 tuft on the side of the neck, and an obscure mark of bright olive under the eye ; primaries and tail, brown, the latter tipped with white ; 

 bill, blackish ; legs, light brown ; irides, dark brown. 



Length, 6| inches ; wing, 2| ; tail, 3i ; bill, f ; tarsus, f . 



The female is a little smaller. 



An inhabitant of "Western and Southern Australia. It feeds upon the honey of the flowers of the Eucalyptus and other trees, 

 and builds its nest in a rather exposed situation, on a horizontal branch, the same being small and cup-shaped, constructed with grasses, wool, 

 spiders' webs, and other materials. Eggs, two or three, deep salmon color, minutely freckled with brown at the larger end: size, 9 by 7 lines. 



PTILOTIS PASCIOGULAEIS. 



(Fasciated Honey-eater) 



♦ 



Crown and all the upper surface, wings, and tail, olive brown ; lores, black ; ear coverts, yellow, followed by a patch of silvery white on the 

 side of the neck ; throat, light yellow, striped with greyish brown ; chest, greyish brown, melting away into greyish white on the abdomen, 

 each feather of which is obscurely striped with brown ; bill, black ; irides, hazel ; feet, lead color. 



Length, 7 inches ; wing, 3| ; tail, 3^ ; bill, f ; tarsus, |-. 



This species has only been found in the colony of Queensland, where it must be considered of rare occurrence, being only found 

 in mangrove swamps and the islands near the coast. Its note is a peculiar harsh whistle. 



PTILOTIS PUSCUS. 



(Fuscous Honey-eater.) 



_♦ 



Upper surface, greyish brown, tinged with olive ; a ring of black surrounds the eye ; ear coverts, blackish brown, followed by a small patch 

 of yellow ; throat and under surface, light greyish brown ; bill, dull yellow at the base, and black at the tip ; feet, fleshy brown ; irides, 

 yellow. 



Length, 5i inches ; wing, 2f ; tail, 2 ; bill, f ; tarsus, f . 



This plainly-colored species is found in Queensland and New South Wales, frequenting the various flowering trees to feed upon 

 the honey, and small insects which are attracted to the blossoms. 



PTILOTIS AURICOMIS. 



(Yellow-tufted Honey-eater) 



^ 



Crown of the head and throat, bright yellow, the former with a tinge of olive ; lores, under and above the eye, and ear coverts, black ; behind 

 the latter is a long tuft of orange yellow ; upper surface, wings, and tail, brownish olive ; chest and under surface, olive yellow ; bill and 

 feet, black. 



Length, 7 inches ; wing, 3i ; tail, 3^ ; bill, f ; tarsus, f . 



This may be regarded as a plentiful species, inhabiting forest lands and open country adjoining scrubs in New South Wales and 

 Queensland, where it maybe seen actively engaged in searching the stems and leaves of trees for insects, which form no inconsiderable 

 portion of its food, though, like the other members of the family, it feeds largely on the nectar of flowers. 



